He Read (at Least) 3,599 Books in
His Lifetime. Now Anyone Can
See His List.
A man of profound intellectual voracity, Dan Pelzer cultivated a life deeply interwoven with the literary world, culminating in a meticulously chronicled reading list of 3,599 volumes. His literary journey, which commenced in 1962 during his Peace Corps service in Nepal and concluded only when his eyesight failed in 2023, stands as a testament to an unwavering dedication to the written word. Mr. Pelzer, who passed away at the age of 92, approached reading with a resolute determination, compelling himself to finish every book he started, including formidable works like James Joyce’s “Ulysses,” which he reportedly found to be “pure torture,” and the entirety of L. Ron Hubbard’s voluminous “Mission Earth” series.
The tangible legacy of this lifelong pursuit is a compendium so extensive—exceeding 100 pages—that its physical distribution at his funeral was impractical. In a modern act of homage, his daughter, Marci Pelzer, commissioned the creation of a digital archive, what-dan-read.com, making her father’s intellectual odyssey accessible to all. This digital memorialization transformed a personal chronicle into a public resource, which the Columbus Metropolitan Library is now digitizing for broader patron use, planning a display at its Whitehall branch to celebrate the eclectic tastes of one of its most devoted patrons.
Mr. Pelzer’s intellectual eclecticism was manifest in a bibliography that traversed disparate genres and subjects with remarkable fluidity. His professional life as a social worker at a juvenile correctional facility is reflected in his perusal of texts on adolescent mental health during the 1980s. Yet, his literary explorations were far from circumscribed by his vocation. His list reveals a deep engagement with classical literature, bildungsromans, and autofiction. While John Grisham’s legal thrillers appear frequently, indicating a penchant for the genre, his intellectual curiosity also led him to memoirs, religious texts, and historical tomes, painting a portrait of a mind constantly seeking new knowledge and perspectives.
Literature for Mr. Pelzer was not a passive activity but an integral framework for interpreting and engaging with the world, a fact his daughter’s recollections vividly illustrate. He shared the epic tale of “Watership Down” with his young children and later used George Orwell’s “Animal Farm” as a frequent point of discussion and societal critique during his daughter's high school years. His reading directly influenced his actions, most notably when Bill Gates’s 2021 book, “How to Avoid a Climate Disaster,” persuaded him to adopt a vegan diet in his final years. These instances underscore a life in which literature served as a catalyst for conversation, personal growth, and philosophical evolution.
Beyond the staggering volume of his reading, Mr. Pelzer embodied a series of profound paradoxes, presenting an enigmatic persona to those who knew him. A devout Catholic who reportedly read the Bible a dozen times, he was also a man who had left the Jesuit seminary for the Peace Corps and was known to enjoy a 40-ounce malt liquor while reading scripture. This juxtaposition of the sacred and the profane was mirrored in his political identity; a former Marine, he was a lifelong liberal who actively campaigned for Jesse Jackson in 1984. This complex tapestry of beliefs and experiences defined a man whose character was as richly layered as the narratives he consumed.
In his final years, as his physical world narrowed, his intellectual pursuits remained his focus, with Charles Dickens’s “David Copperfield” being the last book he completed. His passing prompted a unique tribute from his family, who suggested in his obituary that, in lieu of flowers, mourners honor him by reading “a real page-turner.” This final request perfectly encapsulates the essence of his life, framing his enduring legacy not in monuments or accolades, but in the continuing act of reading itself—the ultimate homage to a man who dedicated his existence to the boundless worlds found within books.
WORDS TO BE NOTED-
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Voracity (n.) - The quality of having a very eager approach to an activity; an insatiable appetite.
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Meticulously (adv.) - In a way that shows great attention to detail; very thoroughly.
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Compendium (n.) - A collection of concise but detailed information about a particular subject.
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Commenced (v.) - Began; started.
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Resolute (adj.) - Admirably purposeful, determined, and unwavering.
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Formidable (adj.) - Inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable.
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Homage (n.) - Special honor or respect shown publicly.
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Eclecticism (n.) - The practice of deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources.
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Manifest (v.) - To display or show a quality or feeling by one's acts or appearance; demonstrate.
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Circumscribed (adj.) - Restricted or limited within certain bounds.
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Penchant (n.) - A strong or habitual liking for something or a tendency to do something.
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Catalyst (n.) - A person or thing that precipitates an event or change.
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Enigmatic (adj.) - Difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious.
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Juxtaposition (n.) - The fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect.
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Accolades (n.) - An award or privilege granted as a special honor or as an acknowledgment of merit.
Dan Pelzer was a remarkable man who passed away at 92 after a life filled with books. From 1962 until his eyesight failed in 2023, he kept a list of every single book he read, reaching a total of 3,599. He was incredibly dedicated, finishing every book he started, even very long or difficult ones. His reading list was over 100 pages, so his daughter created a website to share it with friends and family at his funeral.Mr. Pelzer’s reading choices were very diverse, covering everything from classics and thrillers to memoirs and books for his job. Reading wasn't just a hobby for him; it shaped his life and conversations with his family. He was a man of interesting contrasts—a former Marine and devout Catholic who was also a liberal. To honor his memory, his family suggested that people simply pick up and enjoy a good book.
SOURCE- NY TIMES
WORDS COUNT- 500
F.K SCORE- 15
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